Should you visit Baltimore or Mystic?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Mystic can help you decide which place is right for you.
Baltimore
Baltimore is a large, industrial city and popular tourist destination in the state of Maryland. It is about an hour outside of Washington, D.C. and is a hub of tourism and entertainment for the area. It has a vibrant nightlife, comfortable climate, and is a great place to visit when you're in the area. The city proper has a population of about 600,000 and the metropolitan area has 2.7 million. Its economy is centered around science, technology, engineering and math and it has many undergraduate and graduate schools including the world renowned Johns Hopkins University.
Mystic
Mystic is a popular tourist destination in Connecticut for its many marinas, historic buildings, aquarium, and seaport. It was historically a shipbuilding and maritime town but today it attracts crowds from many nearby states and regions. Sailing trips are a fun activity that get visitors out on the water. The town is also near Foxwoods Casino.
Which city is cheaper, Mystic or Baltimore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Baltimore is $143, while the average daily cost in Mystic is $168. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Baltimore and Mystic in more detail.
Accommodation
Baltimore's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $150. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $75.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Mystic, $200 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Mystic, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $100, such as in a hostel.
Food
The average traveler spends about $37 per day in Baltimore for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
On average, meal and food prices in Mystic cost around $42 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $17.
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Food
Meals for one day
Baltimore $37
Mystic $42
Typical Food prices in Baltimore
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Baltimore:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Baltimore
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Baltimore.
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Federal Hill Food Tour:
$71
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Little Italy and Jonestown Food Tour:
$71
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Fells Point Food Tour in Baltimore:
$73
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Spirit of Baltimore Dinner Cruise with Buffet:
$100
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Baltimore Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Plus Dinner:
$288
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Platinum Package - Helicopter Tour with Dinner at Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille:
$315
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Baltimore Helicopter Tour plus Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$321
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mystic
For Mystic, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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2-Hour Guided Walking Tour with Pizza and Sweets:
$39
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Baltimore is $15 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Mystic, the average visitor spends $45 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Baltimore
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baltimore:
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Transfer from Baltimore–Washington Airport to Baltimore:
$100
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Private transfer from or to BWI , PHL , MDT airports and PA:
$350
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Private Transfer: Baltimore to Baltimore Airport (BWI):
$622
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Private Transfer from Downtown Baltimore to BWI Airport:
$120
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Private Transfer Washington Airport BWI to Washington DC in a Business Car:
$96
-
Private Baltimore Transfer: Hotel to Airport or Cruise Port:
$143
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Private Baltimore Transfer: Cruise Port to Airport or Hotel:
$143
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Private Baltimore Transfer: Airport to Hotel or Cruise Port:
$143
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Private Arrival Transfer from Baltimore Washington Airport BWI:
$54
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Private Airport Transfer: Baltimore to Baltimore–Washington Int. Airport (BWI):
$56
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Private Airport Transfer to Washington DC from Baltimore:
$280
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Departure Private Transfer Baltimore to Baltimore Airport BWI - Business Vehicle:
$74
Entertainment
Baltimore's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Mystic, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Baltimore
Here are a few actual costs in Baltimore for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Chesapeake Signature Cruise:
$15
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Baltimore City Historical Tours with a local private tour guide.:
$250
-
Baltimore Helicopter Sightseeing Tour:
$151
-
Baltimore Inner Harbor Sailing Experience:
$49
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Baltimore Inner Harbor Sightseeing Tour:
$23
-
Baltimore Monuments Walking Tour:
$12
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Baltimore Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$21
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Baltimore Tour-shuttle service:
$190
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Bay of a hundred islands cruise. West Cork. Private guided. 50 mins.:
$432
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Christmas in Baltimore tour:
$250
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From Inner Harbor to Happy Hour Small Group Tour with Local:
$139
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Highlights of Baltimore - Food and History Tour:
$199
Tours and Activities in Mystic
For Mystic, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure:
$19
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Fields of Fire Adventure Park Admission Ticket:
$58
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Baltimore may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Mystic spend on average $25 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Baltimore
Also in Baltimore, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Sip of Baltimore Brewery Tour:
$90
-
Westminster Region Wine Tour:
$97
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Chesapeake Region Wine Tour:
$97
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Heritage Region Wine Tour:
$97
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Chocolate and Wine Tour:
$106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Baltimore and Mystic, we can see that Mystic is more expensive. And not only is Baltimore much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Baltimore would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Baltimore and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mystic would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mystic than you might in Baltimore.
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